Day-one critical
Payment Setup Guide
Mobile wallets, cards, cash — get at least two working before you land.
China First Day
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LanguageEnglish
For first-time visitors to China
Your first day in China, sorted.
Answer a few questions and get a checklist that actually helps — phone, payment, getting to your hotel, checking in, eating, and what to do if something goes sideways.
No login needed
Works on your phone
Focused on day one
Honest advice
Preparation checklist
A checklist that's actually useful.
Tell us your arrival city, time, payment situation, internet plan, hotel status, and luggage. We'll turn that into a to-do list split by before-you-fly, at-the-airport, and just-in-case.
Takes about 5 minutesBefore landing
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
Airport
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
Payment
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
Useful phrases
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
Hotel
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
First meal
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
Plan B
Real actions, not vague advice. Plus links to the full guides when you want more detail.
The stuff that trips people up
Not the fun stuff — the stuff that matters on day one.
Paying for things
China runs on mobile payment. Get set up before you land, and have a Plan B for when the QR code says no.
Getting online
No internet means no maps, no translation, no ride-hailing. Figure out your connectivity before you board.
Airport to hotel
It's 11pm, you have two suitcases, and the metro closed an hour ago. Pick your route before this happens.
Hotel check-in
Foreign passport? There's paperwork. Know what name to book under and what to show at the desk.
Clothing and weather
Beijing in January is brutal. Shanghai in July is a sauna. Check the forecast and pack your arrival layer on top.
Your first meal
You're exhausted and nothing has English menus. Have a simple plan — even if it's just a convenience store run.
Useful Chinese phrases
Six phrases will get you through taxis, check-in, ordering food, and asking for help. Save them on your phone.
First day checklist
Short on time? Just cover these areas.
A quick pre-flight checklist so you're not scrambling after you land.
Before departure
At the airport
Payment
Internet
Phrases
Transport
Hotel
Core guides
Day-one guides, not generic travel tips.
Core guide
Arrival Guide
You just landed. Here's what to do: bags, phone, transport, hotel, food.
Front desk ready
Hotel Check-In Guide
Passport, booking name, deposit — what to have ready so check-in goes smoothly.
Passport basics
Train Booking Guide
Real-name tickets, big stations, passport scanning — how it all works for foreigners.
City first-day guides
Choose your arrival city.
Shanghai
Airport, hotel, payment, weather, and first route basics.
Beijing
Airport, hotel, payment, weather, and first route basics.
Guangzhou
Airport, hotel, payment, weather, and first route basics.
Shenzhen
Airport, hotel, payment, weather, and first route basics.
Chengdu
Airport, hotel, payment, weather, and first route basics.
Honest, practical, and kept up to date.
We're not a government agency, airline, or bank. China First Day is an independent preparation project that turns published guidance into practical checklists. Rules change, apps update, and every trip is different — so always double-check the important stuff with official sources before you fly.
Core content is maintained; verify important rules with official sources before departure.
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